Book Title: Jainism And Its History
Author(s): Sagarmal Jain
Publisher: Research Foundation for Jainology

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Page 207
________________ (v) Astikāya: firm belief in Punya and Papa, virtue and vice, rebirth, doctrine of Karma and the existence of soul. Six Facts: In Jainism right faith (Samyak-Darśana) consists in the recognition of six facts - (i) The soul exists, (ii) The soul is eternal, (iii) The soul is the doer of its deeds, (iv) The soul is the enjoyer of the good or bad fruits of its deeds, (v) The soul can attain liberation and (vi) There is a way to liberation. According to Jaina thinkers a firm conviction of these six principles is essential for the cultivation of right faith. The Rightness of knowledge as well as conduct depends on the acceptance of these six principles which have pivotal position in Jaina religious ethics. Eight Limbs: The Uttaradhyayana (28/31) and many other Jaina texts mention the eight limbs of right faith (Samyak-Darśana). (i) Nihasankita: This quality is negatively explained as an absence of all sorts of doubt and positively as an unshaken belief in the Jaina doctrines. (ii) Nihkanksita: It is explained as an absence of desire for worldly pleasures. A right believer should not hanker after worldly pleasures and material gains. Amrtacandrasuri defined it also as an avoidance of one sided viewer's wrong beliefs (Mithya-Darśana). A right believer should not cling to one-sided views of other faiths (Purusartha-Siddhyupaya, 24). (iii) Nirvicikitsa: It means that one who possesses right belief should not exhibit a feeling of disgust to the self-absorbed monks, who are not very particular about their bodily cleanliness. For a right 205 Jainism and its History

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